Premier Brian Tobin, along with the Minister of Human
Resources and Employment, Joan Marie Aylward, and Penelope Rowe,
chair of the Social Policy Advisory Committee, today released
information and recommendations received during public
consultations for the development of the province's Strategic
Social Plan.

The Strategic Social Plan, the first-ever of its kind in the
history of the province, is being developed to work in
conjunction with the Strategic Economic Plan to constitute an
overall policy framework for the future economic and social
development and well being of the province.

The consultation process has been completed and government will
now move into the development stage of the process. It is hoped
the plan will be implemented in 1997.

Premier Tobin said: "We have to restructure and renew our
social safety nets. Simply cutting services is not the answer. We
are reinvesting savings in health care, education and social
services."

Minister Aylward said: "An interdepartmental committee will
now be formed to facilitate the next phase in the development of
the plan. We appreciate the work of the Social Policy Advisory
Committee and the people of the province who participated in the
consultation process. We now look forward to continuing the
development process and the subsequent implementation of the
Strategic Social Plan."

Ms. Rowe said: "The Strategic Social Policy Advisory
Committee proposed key directions and strategies which we believe
can set in motion a process of social policy renewal. The new
framework is contingent upon new attitides, new ways of doing
things and a sharing of responsibilities and resources. Social
policy must be forward looking and developmental, rather than
reactive, and must endorse a fundamental role for individuals and
local communities in achieving well being. The Strategic Social
Plan Advisory Committee looks forward to government's response
and to the preparation of the Strategic Social Plan."

Copies of the recommendations of the Social Policy Advisory
Committee are available through the Queen's Printer at
Confederation Building in St. John's.